Messages

6621

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Comments on smoothstepper

« on: June 24, 2011, 10:43:58 AM »

I use a SS on one machine and as far as I know it uses the original drivers. Works perfectly.
The BIG advantage of the SS is the excellent backup and help if you are unlucky enough to run into problems.

There is hardly ever any backup when you buy stuff from China but the price is cheap so it can be treated as 'throw away' if it goes wrong but getting help is usually impossible - you are on your own.

That's my 2cents worth.

Tweakie.

6622

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The Laser Project.

« on: June 24, 2011, 10:13:26 AM »

Hi Mikee,

Good suggestion that checklist - it's on my 'to do' list.

Superkitty did have a minor incident a while back. 



Tweakie.

6623

General Mach Discussion / Re: Taig steppers not running

« on: June 24, 2011, 10:01:56 AM »

May be an idea to check the new cable also to make sure that Pin1 goes to Pin1, Pin2 to Pin2 and so on. (Not all cables with 25 way D connectors are wired the same).

Tweakie.

6624

General Mach Discussion / Re: WANTED: Touch Probe setup with 0.1mm resolution.

« on: June 24, 2011, 05:20:02 AM »

Hi Chris,

Do you think something like this could be adapted to smaller scale higher precision work ? http://www.vectric.org/labs/index.php/laboratory/item/get-kinected-to-your-cnc

Tweakie.

6625

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The Laser Project.

« on: June 24, 2011, 02:41:58 AM »

Hi Todd,

I would be most interested to hear how the digital voltmeter performs.

I don't have any backlash problems with my multi-turn dial but obviously there are good ones and bad ones and perhaps I was lucky.

Tweakie.

6626

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The Laser Project.

« on: June 24, 2011, 02:17:36 AM »

Hi Mikee,

All of us, yourself included, each have expertise in different areas or directions and it is when we all come together, on a forum such as this, that a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience becomes available (bit like the individual pieces of a jigsaw making the complete picture).
Others will help you and you will in turn help others - it doesn't matter how clever another person seems to be, there will always be things that you know that they don't - that is the way it is.

Tweakie.

6627

General Mach Discussion / Re: Micro stepping confusion

« on: June 23, 2011, 12:04:27 PM »

Gerry,

Looks like the motors just have the one set of bipolar windings at  6 Amps per phase.

Tweakie.

6628

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The Laser Project.

« on: June 23, 2011, 11:59:37 AM »

Hi Andrea,

Yes indeed it will Sir and it can be downloaded from here;  http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,12444.msg127947.html#msg127947

Tweakie.

6629

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The Laser Project.

« on: June 23, 2011, 04:40:48 AM »

Hi Mikee,

My lens is made from Zinc Selenide and is AR coated on both sides - cleaning it is a delicate process which I really don't want to have to do very often so I use a 'co-axial, air assist' at all times and I have adjustable pressure / volume settings that I can select for different jobs. Because the lens assembly is always above ambient pressure during use it keeps the smoke out.  
You can see the nozzle and just see the air supply line in this photo http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=12444.0;attach=21034;image

Tweakie.

6630

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The Laser Project.

« on: June 23, 2011, 02:16:20 AM »

Hi naPS,

Thanks for the feedback (there is now 6 or 7 of us using the plugin  ).

If you do decide to go for something like the FSE option please report back on your results (even though it will not be Mach driven).

Of all the laser stuff I have completed so far there has only been one job where I have combined two different power levels http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=12444.0;attach=25183;image so I have not really given a power changing option serious thought. Something more to add to my 'to do' list I think and thank you for the suggestions.

Tweakie.